MIKE Hussey continued to prove an inspired choice as captain yesterday when he became the fourth batsman to carry his bat through a Durham first-class innings.

Hussey's unbeaten 144 was the rock around which Durham built a total of 338 at Old Trafford, with Phil Mustard providing both the flavouring and essential support.

Their seventh wicket stand of 139 was exactly the lead which Durham earned and when they reduced Lancashire to 112 for five in their second innings a fourth successive win was looming.

But it takes only an hour of Andrew Flintoff's batting to transform a cricket match and the England all-rounder cracked nine fours in reaching 42 not out to take his side to 135 for five at the close, four behind.

As in his 253 at Leicester last month, Hussey's was a flawless exhibition of steady accumulation in which he never looked like getting out.

The closest he came was on 116 off the first ball bowled by Brad Hodge, who was preferred to Hussey in Australia's squad for the Ashes Tests.

It was a full toss which the captain paddled round the corner just out of short fine leg's reach, but two balls later he lost his best partner, Mustard, for a career-best 77.

Having temporarily seen off Muthiah Muralitharan, perhaps there was some relaxation on the introduction of Hodge's occasional off-spin and it proved costly as the last four wickets went down for 40 runs.

There was also a mini-collapse from 148 for two to 159 for six, Murali taking three wickets in eight balls, before Hussey and Mustard put on 139 in 34 overs of compulsive viewing.

While the captain had the defensive technique to counter the Sri Lankan, who finished with five for 107, Mustard initially lived dangerously.

For the second time this season he got off the mark with a glorious driven six off left-arm spinner Gary Keedy, clearing long-off.

A few lunges at Murali failed to connect, but once he had reached 20 Mustard seemed to have sorted out which balls he could hit.

When the ball was the right length he swept it from outside off stump, while he was also adept at working it wide of mid-on.

Durham were 229 for six at lunch with Hussey on 96 and Mustard 32 and in the first over after the break the wicketkeeper took 14 off Murali.

A lofted drive to long-off was followed by two slog/sweeps to the mid-wicket boundary and an orthodox sweep through square leg.

In the next over Hussey drove Dominic Cork's third ball imperiously through extra cover for his tenth four to complete his century, which also included two sixes, off 213 balls.

Murali was withdrawn and replaced by Keedy, who was smashed over long-off for another six by Mustard to reach 50 off 66 balls.

He cruised past his first-class best of 70 not out, made at Derby two years ago, and was clearly annoyed when he tried to turn Hodge to mid-wicket and lobbed a leading edge to short extra cover.

Derbyshire also featured the last time a Durham batsman carried his bat, but Jon Lewis was able to make only 35 before his side were all out for 91 at Riverside last season.

It was the second time Lewis had accomplished a feat also achieved for Durham by Wayne Larkins (158 out of 305 v Gloucestershire, Gateshead Fell, 1994) and Michael Gough (75 out of 187 v Essex at Riverside, 2002).

In the continuing glorious weather Hussey always knew he had plenty of time to build a commanding lead for his side and as in the opening stand of 60 with Lewis, he was content to let Gordon Muchall do the bulk of the scoring when Durham resumed on 92 for two.

A pulled six off Murali, who was on for the day's seventh over, was a rare attacking stroke by Hussey as Muchall again played well in contributing 34 to a stand of 56.

He was out to Keedy's fourth ball, caught off bat and pad at silly mid-off, then Murali mesmerised the rest of the middle order.

Nicky Peng went for nought, lbw when trying to sweep, Dale Benkenstein got an inside edge into his stumps and Gareth Breese failed to get forward and was lbw second ball.

After Mustard spiced things up Liam Plunkett made 11 before another Murali off break skidded through to hit middle stump.

With Hussey now trying to farm the strike and pick up runs wherever possible, he would not have been pleased to see Mick Lewis go for a big hit and fall lbw.

Steve Harmison was less culpable in being pinned by Keedy to wrap up the innings and he then made sure Lancashire would not easily wipe out the deficit by taking two wickets in an excellent 11-over spell.

He had Mal Loye lbw then Hodge went for a forcing back-foot shot and dragged the ball into his stumps.

Plunkett also bowled well without success and when Paul Collingwood replaced him Stuart Law clipped his third ball to mid-wicket, where Jon Lewis took a good low catch.

Harmison had Lancashire's opener and acting captain Mark Chilton in a lot of trouble and he had made only 13 out of 89 when he fell in identical fashion to the first innings.

Misjudging Mick Lewis's pace, he went for a pull and spooned a simple catch to mid-wicket. Then Plunkett returned and Glen Chapple edged an ambitious drive to Collingwood at first slip.

It was a poor shot considering that Flintoff, studiously blocking the good balls and belting the others to the other boundary, needed some support. He will expect it this morning from Warren Hegg then Dominic Cork, who has yet to make a contribution in this match.

l It turned out to be a disastrous day both for Yorkshire and Michael Vaughan at Grace Road yesterday as Leicestershire dramatically turned the tables to put themselves firmly in charge of the Championship match, writes DAVID WARNER.

Play began with Yorkshire confidently expecting to build upon the advantage they had gained on the first day but it ended with them in grave danger of crashing to their first defeat of the season in any competition. After dipping to 45 for six at one stage they were bowled out for 151, their lowest score in two seasons.

When Leicestershire closed the second day on 183 for five their lead was an emphatic 310